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Mourinho brands Leicester ball boys ‘a disgrace’

Jose Mourinho has branded the Leicester ball boys “a disgrace for the Premier League” after Chelsea lost 2-1 to the Foxes.

Chelsea remain 16th in the Premier League table after goals from Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez inspired their hosts to a 2-1 victory which returned them to the summit.

Mourinho expressed his dissatisfaction with the ball boys at the King Power Stadium, telling Chelsea’s official website: “They [Leicester] fought with everything, they defended with everything, and the ball boys were amazing too.

“I say the point about the ball boys because it’s a disgrace for the Premier League, but I want to make it clear I don’t want that story to be in front of a result Leicester deserved.”

With Chelsea’s ninth defeat of the season, the reigning champions are now just one point above the relegation zone. However, Mourinho insists his side are not fighting to remain in the top flight.

“I accept we are in the relegation zone but I don’t accept we are in a relegation battle,” said Mourinho.

“You look at the table and we are there but you think you are in a relegation battle if you think you are there for three or four months. I don’t think that.

“The last question is always the same. The only thing I can say is that I want to be the manager,” he added. “I have no doubts and I think you know me well enough to know that I am not afraid of a big challenge and in this moment it is a really big challenge.

“I want to stay and I hope Mr Roman Abramovich and the board want me to stay because I want to stay.”